What, exactly, is a “men's capsule wardrobe”? If you asked, oh, about a week ago, we'd have been pretty stumped ourselves.

Once we excluded essentials like underwear and socks—and forwent accessories like sunglasses, hats, and scarves—we wound up with an unassailable men's capsule wardrobe comprising just 15 items.

Not all guys talk about their clothes. Most, like me, stay mute unless the item in question boasts a cool fabrication detail akin to a Porsche’s flat-six engine. But when offered the chance to ...